EOI Selection and Invitation to Submit an Application
EOI's are assessed based upon the criteria in place at the time when your EOI was submitted. If your EOI is selected it will be removed from the application pool and you will no longer be able to update it. Selection doesn't guarantee your application will be approved or that you'll receive a nomination or permanent residence.
After your EOI has been selected:
- You'll receive an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA) letter. The letter will include a file number. If your application doesn't match the information in your EOI it will be rejected and you'll be unable to submit an EOI or apply to the SINP for two years.
- If your situation or any of your information has changed and the changes would result in a loss of points or you would no longer meet the minimum criteria then you should request to withdraw your EOI and not submit an application.
- You'll have 20 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
- Pay a $2,500.00 CAD non-refundable processing fee; and,
- Select and identify a recognized third party financial review service provider on your online application.
- You'll have 90 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
- Submit your complete electronic application, including all required supporting documents; and
- Submit your BEP.
- You’ll have 180 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
- Submit your Third Party Verification Report.
- You're responsible for submitting the required documents to the Third Party Verification provider (see the Third Party Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist).
- The Third Party Verification provider may request further documents or information and may call you for an interview if necessary.
- Submit your Third Party Verification Report.
- If you've not submitted the required information or processing fee within the time given, your invitation to apply will expire and your application may be closed and removed from the system.
- If your application has been removed from the system and you're still interested in applying to the SINP you'll have to submit a new EOI, under the relevant criteria in place at the time of submission.
- You'll need to upload supporting documents to your electronic application.
- Carefully review the document checklists for a full list of all required documents.
- All documentation must be provided in English or French.
- Where documents are in a language other than English or French, you must submit an electronic copy of the original document, as well as an electronic copy of its translation and a translator affidavit.
If your application is accepted for processing and the information you provided changes, such as your family composition, marital status, country of residence, contact information, etc., you must inform the SINP. You're required to update your application even if your visa has already been issued.
Required Documents
Required documents are the documents required for your immigration application (e.g. documents that prove your identity, entrepreneurial experience, language ability, finances, etc.).
For a complete list of required documents, review:
- SINP Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist
- Third Party Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist
You'll need to upload copies of your required documents to your electronic application. All uploaded documents must be clear and easy to read. If any documents are not in English or French you must submit the following:
- An electronic copy of the original document;
- An electronic copy of the English or French translation of the document; and
- An electronic copy of a Translator Affidavit that describes the ability of the translator.
Translations may be done by anyone, except:
- Your spouse;
- A member of your family; or
- A paid third party that has prepared your application to the SINP.
Some Canadian visa offices ask that documents are translated by a certified translator. The SINP doesn't ask for this, but you should still make sure your translated documents meet all federal requirements.
Although the SINP requests you upload copies of documents to an electronic application, IRCC may require original documents or certified copies.
Your SINP Application Assessment
Once your application Processing Fee, Third Party Verification Report, and Electronic Application including all Supporting Documentation are received, we'll review your application and verify the information.
Please note that only complete applications will be accepted.
Incomplete applications will be closed and all submitted information and supporting documents removed from the system.
If your application has been closed and you wish to reapply, you must
submit a new EOI, under the relevant criteria in place at the time of submission.
Your application will be assessed against the Entrepreneur Eligibility Criteria and your EOI Points Assessment will be verified.
A Business Immigration Officer may contact you for more information or call you for an in-person interview.
If, upon review of your application, you don't meet the program's Eligibility Criteria your application will be ineligible.
If your application is found ineligible, all submitted information and supporting documents will be removed from the system. You may choose to submit a new EOI once you meet program criteria.
If the SINP determines that your score on the Points Assessment Grid differs from the points you have claimed and that this was due to intentional misrepresentation, or that you or any person associated with your application omitted relevant information or provided misleading information:
Your application will be rejected; and,
You will not be permitted to submit an EOI or application to the SINP for a period of two years.
If you appear to meet the Entrepreneur Eligibility Criteria you'll be contacted to participate in a final interview. This could be in-person or through a web-based video conferencing service. Please note that applicants are responsible for ensuring they have access to the web-based video conferencing service, including all equipment and software required.
Upon completion of your final interview, you’ll be sent a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) for your review and signature.
Your BPA is your legal agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan.
It will state the amount you’ll invest in your business, and the business sector you will operate your business under. The BPA will also list any other information relevant to your application including, but not limited to job creation, business succession and business location. This is based upon the information you supplied in your Business Establishment Plan.
You must scan and attach your signed and dated BPA to the SINP within 30 days.
Once we receive your signed and dated BPA, we’ll issue an SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter that includes instructions on how to apply to IRCC for a Temporary Work Permit (TWP), along with a Temporary Work Permit Support Letter. The letter is issued to facilitate your application to IRCC for a TWP. A TWP allows you to settle and operate your business in Saskatchewan.
You must apply to IRCC for your TWP within three months of the date on the SINP Approval letter.
If IRCC refuses your TWP application, your SINP application will be ineligible.
Who to include in Your Application
You must list all dependents on your application to the SINP Entrepreneur Category even if they're not coming to Canada with you. As well, you'll have to declare any new dependents to us and IRCC before visas are issued.
IRCC may change the definition of dependents or the policies regarding dependents at any time. You can review IRCC's policies and procedures on the IRCC website.
Presently, accompanying dependents include your:
- Spouse (See Important Terms: Spouse).
- Common-law partner (See Important Terms: Common-law partner).
- Dependent children (See Important Terms: Dependent children).
- Dependent family members that are not included in your application can't be nominated for permanent residence as part of your SINP application later.
- If you want your dependent family members to join you in Canada later, you'll need to make a separate application to the Government of Canada's Family Sponsorship program, or another immigration category. The application will have to be approved before your dependent family members will be allowed to join you.
Please note: If you're the principal applicant, your parents, brothers and sisters may not be included in the SINP application.
Net Worth Evaluation - Third Party Financial Service Providers
The SINP uses two professional third-party financial service providers to assess the net worth and legal accumulation of net worth of applicants to this category.
Bay Adelaide Centre |
Suite 900, Royal Bank Building |
When you receive an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA), you'll find an SINP file number included.
- Submit all relevant documents listed on the Third Party Document Checklist, with your file number to one of the third-party providers listed above. Your information won’t be reviewed without this file number.
- Make sure all your information (financial statements, property evaluations, bank account information, etc.) are up-to-date and correct. This will help speed up the evaluation process.
- Once your assessment is complete, you'll receive an evaluation report from the service provider.
- To complete your application, submit the evaluation report and updated information to the SINP. Submit your application for nomination to the SINP and include your evaluation report and any updated information.
- Be sure to submit your application within 90 days of receiving your evaluation report.
Arriving in Saskatchewan and Establishing Your Business
- We require you to submit your SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter along with your application for a TWP to the federal government within three months after you get the letter, to facilitate your arrival in Saskatchewan within 12 months of receiving your SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter. All approved applicants that don't attend an arrival meeting within 18 months of the date on the SINP Entrepreneur Approval letter will be deemed to have failed to fulfil BPA terms, and their applications will be closed.
- After you arrive in Saskatchewan you'll have to:
- Meet with a business service provider that we designate within 90 calendar days of arriving in Canada. The contact details will be sent to you with your BPA. The business service provider is available to answer your questions related to fulfilling the terms of the BPA. They can also refer you to other service providers for relevant information and guidance related to the establishment of your business;
- Submit your Arrival Report Form and the list of documents you should provide with it; and
- No later than 12 months after the Landing Date, submit your Business Establishment Progress Report to the SINP Entrepreneur category. This report outlines your business establishment activities to date.
- Upon arrival in Saskatchewan you're to:
- Begin to establish or purchase your business as per the requirements of your BPA. We recommend you start operating your business within six months of arriving in the province. To be eligible for nomination, you must operate your business for a minimum of six months.
- You're encouraged to use the settlement services available in Saskatchewan. You can access government funded settlement services through Regional Newcomer Gateways.
- These organizations are welcoming centres for newcomers to Saskatchewan. They provide language assessment services, career and employment services (for your accompanying family members), and guidance and advice from a Settlement Coordinator. The Regional Newcomer Gateways can also connect you to community and ethno-cultural groups.
BPA Change Requests
- Applicants applying to change their BPA should have completed the mandatory arrival meeting within 90 calendar days of arriving in Canada, and, if required, should also have submitted the mid-term Business Establishment Activity Report. Applicants that haven't fulfilled these obligations won't be eligible to request a BPA change.
- BPA change requests will only be considered when the proposed new venture has been well researched and detailed documentation is provided.
- You'll have to show genuine attempts to purchase or establish the business in line with your original BPA. You must also provide detailed documentation to show that you've attempted to fulfil your original BPA, or clearly outline why the business is no longer possible in your intended location.
- You'll have to explain what obstacles you've encountered and what you've done to try to overcome these obstacles.
- BPA change requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- You're not guaranteed to receive approval for a BPA change despite meeting program criteria.
- Change requests must be reviewed and the requested change must continue to meet program criteria, and be eligible.
BPA changes shouldn't result in you being assessed with fewer points than you were selected with, based on your EOI.